“Moral courage is requisite to meet the wrong and to proclaim the right.”

This is what A Shining City on a Hill looks like. Thank you, General.

Annie Quiller

Lt. Gen. Silveria, thank you so much for being a voice of reason and for being a true LEADER. Your speech is very important so that people know that there are people who want better for us all, and they go about it in a way that builds strength and character. You represent the best that we have to offer and you are, in my opinion, a tremendous asset to this country and you are a national treasure. Thank you for standing up for what is right and thank you for your time and service for this country.

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Lt Gen Silveria addresses cadets about racism incident

Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, along with USAFA leadership, addressed the entire Cadet Wing and USAFA Preparatory School today. Lt. Gen. Silveria left no uncertainties that racism has no place at the Academy.

Air Force Academy head to cadets: ‘If you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect, then get out’

The superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy demanded tolerance Thursday in a passionate speech to his cadets — days after black students at the academy’s preparatory school found racial slurs written on message boards outside their rooms.

Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, who runs the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., told his cadets that they “should be outraged, not only as an airman, but as a human being.”

Earlier in the week, “Go home” with a racial epithet was written outside the dormitory rooms of five black cadet candidates at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, the Air Force Times reported.

While the incident didn’t occur on his campus, Silveria nonetheless acknowledged, “I would be naive, and we would all be naive, to think that everything is perfect here.”

“We would also be tone-deaf not to think about the backdrop of what’s going on in our country — things like Charlottesville and Ferguson, the protests in the NFL,” he added, noting the productive “civil discourse” that resulted from an organized discussion on campus about the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August.

Silveria also extolled “the power that we come from all walks of life, that we come from all parts of this country, that we come from all races, we come from all backgrounds, gender, all makeups, all upbringing.”

“The power of that diversity comes together and makes us that much more powerful,” he said.

As he wound down the speech, Silveria had straightforward advice for his audience, offering for his cadets to use their phones to record his closing message.

“If you need it and you need my words, then you keep these words,” he said. “And you use them and you remember them and you share them and you talk about them: If you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect, then get out.”

Hope in the midst of disaster

The hurricanes that resulted in devastation in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean Islands, have also brought out the best in mankind – as millions of dollars are being raised and first responders are performing heroic acts beyond measure.

As we continue to observe the results of the flood waters, my heart goes out to all of these people. I’ve seen the effects of flooding, but I have also seen proof that prayer is an effective help before, during, and after a devastating storm. I am reminded of this verse from the Bible: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59: 19).

But who is the “enemy” when the flood isn’t an army, but powerfully flowing water? Isn’t the enemy not just water, but also fear, worry, discouragement and an overwhelming sense of loss? These negative states of mind represent the feeling that God is absent and that we are left alone to grapple with forces beyond our control. Yet the Bible promises, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46: 10). How do we make this promise practical in our lives?

Jesus proved this. When on a boat with his disciples in the middle of a storm, he quieted the storm simply by declaring, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4: 39). He wasn’t just quieting the weather; he was also dispelling the terror the disciples were feeling. While we may not have Jesus’ level of confidence in God, it is a spiritual fact that anyone, anywhere, truly has omnipotent help right at hand. This help may take many different forms, such as protection, or a rescue, or even an inspired idea about how to hold back the water.

There was a time when our town was hit with a torrential rainstorm. Seventeen inches of rain fell overnight. When I woke at 2 a.m., water had filled up the basement window wells and was pouring into our basement. While my wife used our wet vac, and I went outside to empty and re-empty the window wells, my 8-year-old daughter held a bucket underneath one window trying to catch the water. But we were fighting a losing battle.

We called a water extraction company and they said that we were number 200 on their list and to just consider our basement a total loss. We had recently remodeled this basement into a playroom for the kids and an office for me. I had just cancelled the flood insurance because it had increased in price.

As I was carrying the books, computers and furniture from my office to another room upstairs, I opened to the statement from Eddy quoted above about God’s omnipotence. I repeated that quote–loudly– acknowledging the all-power of God, good, over the din of the vacuum and the water pouring in. It was my prayer of affirmation of God’s all-presence and power.

As I voiced those statements over and over, I began to feel the spiritual authority behind them. At some point the truth behind them meant more to me than the water coming into my basement. It was at that point the water stopped coming in. It was still raining and would continue to rain for another four hours, but the water stopped coming in. It took many more hours of using the wet vac and days of using industrial strength fans to dry out the basement, but we had no loss at all.

What I learned from this experience is that none of us can be separated from God’s loving care. Even when disaster leads to a loss of property–or worse, the loss of loved ones–turning to God’s love in humble prayer can bring the strength, courage and intelligence to go on. This leads to mental as well as physical restoration, not just living with grief but letting God heal it. Tangibly feeling Love’s tender care, we’ll find new empowerment, wholeness, wisdom and perseverance. And under divine Mind’s guidance we can expect to find ways to ameliorate environmental degradation, make wise decisions, and protect our homes.

Prayer can help us understand that we are more than just fragile mortals trapped in a disaster; instead, we have a spiritual nature, forever embraced in the presence of divine Love. Prayer can give us a sense of our God-given dominion, mental equilibrium, courage and strength. This understanding prayer not only comforts, but restores a full sense of goodness in our lives.

Quotes

The following inspirational quotes for teachers are from some of history’s most profoundly influential educators. Whether they be related directly to academia or not, the fact is all the people below taught us all something incredible that exists beyond the classroom.

Their words touched both hearts and minds. Life lessons, and not just classroom lessons, abound here. After all, preparation for life is at the heart of every classroom. Please enjoy these powerful inspirational quotes for teachers and the messages embedded in them. They’re for you, all the teachers and enablers of the world.

Anne Sullivan Macy, the famous companion and teacher of Helen Keller, knew a thing or two about perseverance. Blind herself from the age of 5 from trachoma, she began teaching at the age of 20. Keller was her first student. The immediate connection between them blossomed into a lifelong journey of overcoming the absence of vision with an abundance of heart and determination.

What’s the message? As a teacher, you and only you see the painful steps your students sometimes experience in your classroom. They are fighting their own battles, breaking deeply personal barriers, and moving towards success. You are there for all of it. Only one who has taught can understand the often painful but always rewarding journey of teaching children. No one can take that pride away from you, or from your students.

Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in the mid 1800s. Despite the hardships and lack of prospects he faced early on, he became a largely self-educated man. He put himself through school to became a prolific teacher. He eventually went on to found what is today’s Tuskegee University.

What’s the message? It’s clear Washington knew the true essence and value of what it means to be a teacher. They devote their lives to lifting up their students in so many ways. Intellectually, emotionally, spiritually—a passionate educator nurtures the whole student. That’s why teaching is and always will be one of the noblest professions anyone can undertake.

One lady who was constantly challenging the status quo of her day was Maria Montessori. She was born in the 1870s in Italy, and was a diligent student. All her life she remained ambitious and confident. Her refusal to adhere to the traditional expectations held for women in her time was legendary. She eventually went on to develop an educational philosophy that is the foundation of thousands of schools all over the world bearing her name.

What’s the message? Montessori believed in embracing a child’s natural curiosity and spontaneity as the basis for great teaching and learning. It’s true, our children need our guidance and our care early on in their learning lives. That said, the truly successful educator is that one whose students have grown to no longer need them.

Author and lecturer C. S. Lewis captivated our imaginations with stories such as his famously-loved Chronicles of Narnia. He was also an inspirational educator, having taught at both Cambridge University and Oxford University. One of Lewis’ biggest influences (and dearest friends) was J. R. R. Tolkien.

What’s the message? In three words, believe in yourself. This is a message for you, and for every one of your students. The stimulus in our worlds, especially when we’re kids, is not always positive or empowering. We’re often brought up being made more aware of what we can’t do rather than what we can. As a teacher, you’re in a perfect position to train young minds to believe in what’s possible. Our lives are created by our thoughts and feelings. The only limitations we have are the ones we place on ourselves.

When Maya Angelou suffered intense physical and emotional trauma at the age of 8, she lost her voice. She believed it was her words that had caused the pain and suffering in her life and the lives of her family. She did not speak again until the age of 13, having to practically relearn how all over again. Who helped her regain her voice? An exceptional and dedicated teacher—something Angelou herself emulated later on in life. She died in the spring of 2014.

What’s the message? Although not technically an educator, Angelou taught people so much about love, forgiveness, acceptance, and the the value of a strong work ethic. Her list of academic and literary accomplishments is diverse and exemplary. In the end, this is one of those inspirational teacher quotes that reminds us of a simple truth. Success is a flower that still has to be watered, weeded, and given patience and love in its time of growth. Where is this more of a truth than with our students?

No list of inspirational teacher quotes would be complete without including the great man himself. Albert Einstein lived his life with an almost childlike curiosity that never faltered. It was this that opened him up to some of the most profound discoveries about our existence that we’ve ever had. He was a scientist, theorist, teacher, and some say a magician. In the end, it was his love of learning that made him never stop questioning.

What’s the message? Einstein believed strongly in the creative power of the imagination. What fuels the imaginations of our students is encouraging them to always keep asking questions. We can do this in our discussions and lessons, and with things like inquiry- and project-based learning. Developing the kind of teaching that makes students curious and wanting to explore is the pathway to building better minds and more successful global citizens.

Nadia Boulanger was an incredibly gifted teacher and musician. She had the distinction of being the first female conductor ever for the both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and theNew York Philharmonic Orchestra. One of her most famous students was the composer Philip Glass.

What’s the message? There’s an old saying: If it was easy, someone else would do it. The trials that shape us in school and life are part of building character, compassion, and morality. Difficulty, when embraced as a learning opportunity, can be more beneficial than we realize. There will always be challenges. Boulanger suggests here that teaching our students to welcome challenges is an expression of caring. One of the greatest gifts we can give any student is the ability to freely conquer adversity.

One of the most popular thinkers and lecturers of the New Thought movement was Napoleon Hill, author of the book Think and Grow Rich. During his lifetime, Hill became an adviser for two U.S. presidents, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He lectured extensively on the principles of personal success until his death in 1970.

What’s the message? Being a teacher is not easy. Being a student is not easy. Being a human being is not easy. Nor should they be. We learn best when we are challenged positively and productively, in a way that resonates with us on personal levels. But what about the challenges life throws at us when we aren’t prepared? How do we learn then? How do we grow without succumbing to our fragility in the moment of truth? That’s up to us to discover for ourselves as individuals. Hill merely reminds us here that there is promise to be found in any pain.

It is outrageous for a person who has NO REAL EXPERIENCE to apply for and take the top job in ANY entity and THEN begin a study of how to do the job. It speaks volumes of the hypocrisy of some to think they are entitled to a ‘learning period’ when in reality they are taking a crash course or ‘cramming’ like the students she is supposed to direct and inspire. No integrity at all.

Jesse

More than anything, I want to teach. I want to continue to teach my fourth graders that citizenship means respect for all and a responsibility for each other, to read critically, to value being informed. I want to teach them that a million small efforts will eventually be more powerful than one large campaign check. And I want to teach them that America will always return to freedom, no matter how much corruption tries to reign.

So, thank you, and good luck to you. You have no clue what you just signed up for.

Congresswoman Won’t Back Down When Betsy DeVos Refuses to Defend LGBTQ Students

If you’re easily frustrated, you might need to take a brisk walk before pressing “play” on this video. Massachusetts Congressional Representative Katherine Clark questioned controversial Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos about preventing discrimination by schools receiving federal funding. Clark refused to let her avoid the question, though DeVos certainly tried.

Rep. Clark initiated the question at House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 24 with a nonhypothetical scenario in which a discriminatory school policy could affect LGBTQ youth seeking an education. The example she chose is Indiana private school Lighthouse Christian Academy that’s currently seeking federal funding. The school has a policy reserving the right to refuse admittance to students whose households entertain “homosexual or bisexual behavior.” Clark asked DeVos if the secretary of education would stand up for the rights of LGBTQ students by ensuring that they would be allowed to attend, should the school end up receiving the federal dollars that it currently seeks.

DeVos, who doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to advocating for students’ rights, first attempted to skirt around the question completely. But Clark quickly set her straight:

“You are the backstop for students in the right to access a quality education. Would you, in this case, say, ‘We overrule and you cannot discriminate, whether it be on sexual orientation, race, or special needs in our voucher programs’? Will that be a guarantee from you?”

When DeVos refused to give a yes or no answer, Clark asked emphatically: “Do you see any circumstance where the Federal Department of Education under your leadership would say that a school was not qualified?” She went on to give a theoretical example about whether schools could refuse admittance to students of color, which DeVos again failed to answer clearly, simply citing “parents making choices.”

After a back and forth with DeVos refusing to decisively answer about defending students’ rights, Clark sharply demanded: “Yes or no?” (Spoiler alert: the secretary of education didn’t answer.)

Give the above video a watch to see the full exchange; thanks to DeVos, you won’t walk away with any more clarity on the state of our education system, but you’ll certainly have a newfound sense of appreciation for congressional badass Katherine Clark.

Foundation of Christian Science

By THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, Mary Baker Eddy was frequently asked by the press for statements on political and social issues — and about her discovery, Christian Science. In 1901 she responded to a newspaperman’s question, “On what is Christian Science based?” by answering that its foundation was “The Ten Commandments, The Ninety-First Psalm, The Sermon on the Mount, The Revelation of St. John the Divine.”

As McKinnon took to the stage to accept her award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, ABC News’ Chris Donovan tweeted a page from Clinton’s recently released memoir, What Happened, that mentioned McKinnon’s award-winning portrayal.

“She sat at a grand piano and played ‘Hallelujah,’ the hauntingly beautiful song by Leonard Cohen, who had died a few days before,” Clinton wrote of McKinnon’s cold open on “Saturday Night Live’s” first show after the Nov. 8 election.

“As she sang, it seemed like she was fighting back tears,” Clinton added. “Listening, so was I.”

“We should welcome all those who are willing and able to serve our country.”

WASHINGTON ― Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) cosponsored a new bill Friday that would prevent President Donald Trump from kicking transgender people out of the military.

The bill, which already has bipartisan support, would prohibit the Defense Department from denying transgender service members the ability to reenlist or continue service in the armed forces based on their gender identity. It would also require Defense Secretary James Mattis to complete his review of transgender troops’ effect on military readiness by the end of the year and report his results to Congress.

McCain, who chairs the Armed Services Committee, said nobody should be turned away from volunteering to serve their country if they are able to serve.

“When less than one percent of Americans are volunteering to join the military, we should welcome all those who are willing and able to serve our country,” he said in a statement. “Any member of the military who meets the medical and readiness standards should be allowed to serve—including those who are transgender.”

Gillibrand and Collins recently tried to add a similar amendment to the fast-moving defense authorization bill. They had the support of McCain, the bill’s author, as well. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) cut off debate on that bill and prevented people from adding amendments. So McCain and the others decided to reintroduce the issue as standalone legislation.

“Despite being denied a vote on my bipartisan amendment to defend our transgender service members, we are not giving up in this fight,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “Thousands of brave transgender Americans love our country enough to risk their lives for it, fight for it, and even die for it, and Congress should honor them and let them serve.”

The next step is seeing what other senators sign onto the bill, and whether McConnell is willing to give it a floor vote. The bill still has to go through a committee hearing, but conveniently, it will go through McCain’s committee.